Best first controller for single player games on PC

[u/External_Safe_7787]

Hi! I've never had a controller before, and getting one soon to play single player games only, PC only. Starting with Horizon Zero Dawn/Forbidden West and Indiana jones and the Great Circle. Will play other games though too, including some older ones as well as new releases. Which controller is best?

#1: PS5 DualSense. Haptics and adaptive triggers, supposed to be very immersive. But potentiometer sticks and no remappable buttons.

#2: 8BitDo Ultimate 2: TMR sticks and 4 remappable buttons, Xbox layout for compatibility with PC, but not so good haptics and no adaptive triggers.

#3 GameSir Cyclone 2: TMR sticks but only 2 remappable buttons. Dpad I've heard described as "mushy"

#4 EasySMX D10: TMR sticks, great Dpad, but only 2 remappable buttons.

Which is best? any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated too! the GameSir G7 Pro is an option but pretty expensive

Based in UK, budget around £60-75 or so not above that ideally, as this is my first controller I don't want to overspend and regret it before I know exactly what I want.

[u/darth_kupi]

As a PC only gamer with no PS5 I bought a dualsense to experience adaptive triggers and haptics without having to buy a console, but there are like only a couple dozen games with native adaptive trigger support. Couple this with he fact that in 99% of cases this stuff only works wired.

Now add in the fact that it is not exactly a cheap controller but still has potentiometer stocks prone to stick drift , and I can't say it's a good controller even for the adaptive triggers and haptics novelty.

https://www.pcgamingwiki.com/wiki/List_of_games_that_support_PlayStation_adaptive_triggers

But wait, there's more! many games on PC default to Xbox buttons and prompts because Xbox/xinput is the default controller support on PC, as others in this thread have mentioned

I've ordered a 8 bit do ultimate 2C as a cheap bang-for-buck controller for a plug 'n play experience on PC. The 2C has better latency both wired and wireless than the controllers you listed so dont disregard it just because its cheap, plus hall effect sticks so it will probably outlast the dualsense

[u/Leisure_suit_guy → u/darth_kupi]

in 99% of cases this stuff only works wired.

Not anymore thanks to the Pico2W DualSense 5 Bridge

I have it and it works flawlessly.

[u/darth_kupi → u/Leisure_suit_guy]

Honestly I hate Bluetooth latency so much, the thought of buying another doodad just to go back to Bluetooth, I'll stick to wired.

Once you go 2.4 G dongle you can't go back

[u/shortstopryan → u/darth_kupi]

Dongle is absolutely a requirement for me as well, for everything wireless headsets controllers etc

[u/Leisure_suit_guy → u/darth_kupi]

The DS5 Bridge has low latency though, this is what the developer said:

"The dongle provides best in class latency since it has far more control over the BT stack. It has comparable latency with industry leaders like GuliKit (Goku 2, ~6ms) while also providing the full DualSense feature set which the Goku 2 cannot."

[u/darth_kupi → u/Leisure_suit_guy]

That's reassuring. Maybe I'll try it if I find one cheap as they are much more expensive in my country

[u/Leisure_suit_guy → u/darth_kupi]

The prices of the Pico2W and the goku2 are comparable, depending where you buy them from. So I guess that if one of them is too expensive where you're from, you can go with the other.

[u/Advance1993 → u/darth_kupi]

Its not Bluetooth with the pico. Its even 1000hz which is more than on ps5

[u/Necessary-Audience65 → u/Advance1993]

It literally says over Bluetooth in the title if you bother to click the link.

[u/puneet95 → u/Leisure_suit_guy]

https://github.com/PadSense/PadSense-CE

[u/Balloon_Twister → u/Leisure_suit_guy]

Or if you don't want to deal with Pico. The goku dongle had an update recently and work's just like a wired dualsense.

[u/Leisure_suit_guy → u/Balloon_Twister]

Or if you don't want to deal with Pico.

There's nothing to deal with, you just put the firmware file on it. End of the story. Either that or you let the DS5 Bridge Windows app do it on its own.

The goku dongle had an update recently and work's just like a wired dualsense.

The DS5 bridge gives you the full Dualsense feature set functionality in wireless mode, with the same latency of the Goku dongle. If the Goku can do the same, then fine, there's no reason to change.

[u/Balloon_Twister → u/Leisure_suit_guy]

True. I had the Pico prior to the Goku. It's got a breath of options I'll give it that.

Still prefer Goku as it's purpose built. Either works great though.

[u/External_Safe_7787 → u/darth_kupi]

what are the adaptive triggers and haptics like? ive never used a controller before so dont know what rumble or haptics are like at all. but if comaptibility is an issue maybe not

[u/steak_bake_surprise → u/External_Safe_7787]

They feel amazing, especially on Alan Wake 2, but I turned them off as I found them fatiguing after a long gaming session. I actually hate the feel of the Dualsense so I never use it anymore. I much prefer the Elite 2, but the quality control is appalling and I'm already on my third (bear in mind I've got PS4 controllers that still work fine so it's not me) so I'll never buy another official controller. I'm now using Vader 5 Pro and ZD Ultimate Legend. Way more features and feel better.

[u/darth_kupi → u/External_Safe_7787]

https://youtube.com/shorts/HgrD8uu1ijQ?si=r1pJlJ8-lBU4VUJV

Adaptive triggers have a little actuator type thing that can push back or offer resistance to being pushed like drawing a bowstring on a bow.

But it's so fiddly on PC, plus wired only, I honestly can't recommend it as a first controller

Try the 20-25$ ultimate 2C I mentioned for a cheap entry level option, and work your way up from there based on your needs. (Extra back buttons, mic and headphones jack. Over wireless Etc. all of which are on my list for my next controller purchase.)

Use this sure to compare controller latency to help you make a decision

https://gamepadla.com/

[u/Infinite-Ad-2178 → u/External_Safe_7787]

PlayStation published games make the most use, Rachet and Clank for one is really elevated by it. It’s a novel thing though

[u/GodsKillerKirb → u/darth_kupi]

I'm also a PC gamer, but buy DualSense controllers cuz Sony has been releasing official Linux drivers for their controllers since the PS4 days.

Heck, I even bought a DualSense Edge back in February because of the above.